Baseball game



March 31. 1925.

J. OCONNOR BASEBALL GAME Filed 061'.T 29, 1924 INVNTOR Joep 0,65

ATTORNEYS fifi Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

Unirse sTATEs JOSEPH OCONNOR, NEW YORK, N. Y.

BASEBALL GAME.

Applicationled October 29, 1924. Seria] No. 746,593. Y

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JosnrnOCoNNoR, a citizen of Irish Free State, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of the Bronx, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Baseball Game, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to abaseball game apparatus and particularly relates to an apparatus includingl a boardhaving a baseball iield and diamond. delineated thereon, as well as a spinner bearing various indicia.

The general object of my invention is to provide a baseball apparatus featuring a novel field and having symbols correlated to certain symbols and indicia on the spinner whereby the direction of movement of a batted ball will be determined and indicated and whereby successive plays determining the result of a hit and the fate of the bat ter, following the directional determination of the ball, will be indicated and brought about in an interesting manner comparable with the playing of an actual baseball game.

The nature of the invention andV its distinguishing features and advantages will clearly appear as they description proceeds.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a. part of this specification, it being understood that the drawings are merelyillustrative of one example oi the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a board equipped with a standard having a field delineated therein aswell as auxiliary areas to be further referred to;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a device to be variously positioned in relation to the iield to mark the direction of movement oi the ball;

`Figure 3 is a perspective view of the piece employed to represent the ball;

Figures l and 5 are plan viewsof pieces to represent players;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a. disk that may be employed to mark runs, men out, balls and strikes;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the separate base for the ball in positioning the ball on the ield.

In carrying out my `invention in accord* ance with Vthe illustrated example, a board is provided having a playing field marked thereon, saidfield divided into sector-shaped spaces or arcuate zones 51 and these in turn are crossed by radial or approximately radial lines dividing each sector into spaces 52. At intervals on the field certainy of the arcuate zones 51 bear numerals, the numerals in the illustrated example running from 1. to 40, indicating in this example that a ball may have any one of forty directions. As the spaces narrow toward the home plate, two numerals are placed on certain spaces of the zones 51, asv

for example, in one arcuate series of numbers the numerals 2 and 3, 7 and 8, 12 and l13, etc. are in single space more or less in line with corresponding numbers 'in the outer numbered zones. Again, as the numbered Zones are nearer the center, all the v spaces in a zone bear two numbers. A diamond is indicated by the base numerals 1, 2, 3 andthe home plate, indicated by the letter II Along the base lines at intervals are marks or symbols 53 to indicate the successive strides by which a-batter may reach ay given base. The pitchers box is indicated by the legend Pit box. VAdjacent to the home plate are spaces marked B B at right and left to indicate right and left-hand batters, and a space marked C to indicate the catchers position in simulation of a baseball ield. On the board 50 also are marked areas 54, '55 for the field team4 and upL team, respectively. Also, areas 56, 57 are indicated, respectively,'witli the captions Reserve men belonging to both teams and Players that have been withdrawn. Also, there is an area 53 with lines and spaces as4 well as the legends Runs forV inning, Men out, .Ball and Strike The runs for inning are numbered up to six or more to indicate the runs and on said numbers'in practice in the large board actually employed, these numbers will be covered each by a disk 59. Any suitable direction markerv may be employed there being a cube 60 shown in Figure-2 for the purpose. In Figure 3 is shown a small ball 61 on a 'ring 62. The numeral 63 and 163 indicate examples oi the pieces employed to represent the players. On the pieces 63, 163 the names of the players are given, as for example, Statz and Adams. Also, on these pieces are the initials representing the team to which the players belong, for example, C N representing Cincinnati. Again,on the disks 63 and 163 the position of the player is indicated, that is, C F representing center field and S S representing short stop in the illustrated eX- ample. On each disk 63, 163 representing players is a number 2, 3, etc. rlhis is in accordance With a feature of my invention whereby grade the players, some players by reason of ascribed superiority being credited with a point or points as by the numeral 2 on piece 63 and numeral 3 on piece 163. The credit marks or points credited entitle the player to an additional movement of a batted ball besides the distance the ball is indicated to be moved by Vthe spinner next referred to. This additional move is made only once, and that is, when the bail is being moved for the first time according to the number of spaces the spinner Wheel Zone 68 indicates, after Which the ball is moved simply the number of spaces that Zone 63 indicates.

The spinner designated generally by the numeral 64ris adapted to be spun by the headed pin 65 turning in board 50. Near the periphery annular spaces are delineated on the spinner and these are designated '66, 67, 68 and y69. The annular spaces or zones 66 to 69, it will be observed, I have not numbered in regular order radially inward or radially outward ibut have numbered the nentA to the outermost one, 66, andthe outermost ione, 67, the reason being that the outermost one requires to bear the numerals l to Zl0 to correspond with the arcuate series of numbers `on the ball eld and `such numbers require a greater space than is aiderded by the next innermost space 66. The annular space 66 Which is the first to come into play bears various legends to indicate lallsf Strikes, Hit and Foul variously disposed about the spaces. The second space, 6'?, to come into play indicates the direction of a hit when a hit is made. The third space coming into play in sequence and numbered 68 bearsV numerals to indicate the extent of the hit, kthat is to say, the extent te which the ball is entitled to be moved radially on the held along the radiai or approximately radrialspaces 52. A pointer or indicating device is 'delineated on the board 50, there being shown 'an .arrow for the purpose in the present instance. The numbers in the zone 63 of the disk as illustrated are 3, 6, 7, S and 9, .so that :if the number 3 be indicated, .for example, by the arrow lZ0, the piecerepresenting the ball Will be moved radially on the 1field,that y`is, i.- a. direction from the home plate toward 'he outer periphery of the field, three annuar spaces 5l alonga given radial space 52. Similarly, if the numeral 6 be :indicated by the pointer l"(0, the vball may be :moved the distance equal to 6 of the divisions along the radial spaces 52.' A' fourth annular space on the spinner and .numbered 69 gives the result of the fielding of the `moved ball, said space bearing about the same various legends Stop, Fumbled, Went past, Caught fly.

The game may be played by o ne or tivo players. If it is played by one player he takes charge of both teams and proceeds at ya given time as if he were only in charge of one side and then in the regular order handles the other lside accordingly. The game is started by Writing the batting order for both teams and this order of batting is maintained throughout the game. Rules may be provided for substituting one of the ,several players according to Whether in a given instance that one of the pieces representing the several players displays points such as indicated by the numeral 2 on the piece 63 in Figure et. The play is started by putting the first batter of the team adjacent the home plate at the space B. Then the men are arranged on the field.

Assuming the game is played by tivo players, the batting order is made out by each ofthe two players and the disclosure of the batting order Withheld from the other player. Afterwards the order in which the teams are to bat is .displayed on the table for the benefit of both players throughout the game. lhen 1a half inning ends with a given team, the last player of that team to be at the bat is kept in mind so that the next time that the team comes to bat, .the next player in .order bats first. Let us assume that tivo players representing each team X and Y; let Xs team be at the bat and Ys team in the. field. X Willsit at that side of the board marked Up team and Y at the opposite side of the board. X having` yput a batter at the plate, Y'arranges his men on the field to suit himself except that the pitcher must remain in the pitchers box. The squares for the basemen andthe fielders in the illustrated example are indicated a, left field; .7:, center field; @,right field; d, short stop; c, second baseman; f, first baseman, and g, third baseman. F or obtaining the most interest Within the diamond, that is to say, Within the base lines which bear to the infielders, field and basemen must stand on squares Wholly out-side of the base lines. The ball is then placed at the pitchers bor.

The first batter having beenput up, the player having the fielding team may arrange his men nearer to or farther from the honie plate according to the strength of batter up, that is to say, if a heavy hitter with a large number of vpoints indicated by the numeral 2 in Figure 4i is up to bat, the field man Will probably Wish to move his players out .farther in the `field than he would if a weak bat-ter With only one or two points or none was up at vthe. bat. iWe may assume that the first batter up -has three points. The play is started by the Y or defense player Ytaking the ball 'from the piece-represented .by the pitcher and placing it on `the home plate.

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It will be seen from Figure 7 that the base of piece 62 is separate and is formed by a ring with a paper or other covering and closure at one side. The opposite side as shown in Figure 7 enables the ball to seat snugly on the ring. The ball having been placed on the home plate, the player X in charge of the batting team spins the spinner wheel and the legend on annulai` space 66 opposite arrow 70 will indicate either a ball, strike, foul or hit Ii the arrow points to a ball, strike, or foul, it is so marked by the player Y representing the defense at the proper space in the area 58, the first two fouls counting strikes and any succeeding foul hits being of no consequence in accordance with the regular baseball rules. The player in charge of the batters spins the wheel again and again until either three strikes or four balls are indicated, or a hit7 is indicated. 1f three strikes, the batter is out as usual, and if four balls he takes a base,'but if a hit is shown, then the play proceeds as follows:

A hit being indicated, the wheel is spun and the outermost annular space on the spinner wheel is at this time to be regarded and the numeral indicated by the arrow 70 when the spinning wheel stops, determines the direction the hit ball is to take. Let us assume that the numeral indicated is 15. The direction marker is now placed on the number 15 of the outermost arcuate series of numbers so as to mark the direction f2 the ball must take along the radial series of spaces numbered 15. The direction having been ascertained, the distance the ball is to travel is to be determined in accordance with the numbers on the annular space 68 of the spinner wheel. It will be understood that various rules may be made for the game and it will be sufficient that the present description has regard for some given rules explaining the utility of' the invention.

Since the pieces 63 and 163 may represent points as by the numeral 2 in Figure 4 and the numeral 3 in Figure 5, the rules may advantageously provide that at this point in the game the player X in charge of the batters must declare whether he is going to avail himself of the points indicated by the numeral 2, for example, on the piece 63. Let us assume that the piece in play representing the batter indicates three points. The players X in charge of the batters will see that by the position of the fielders that the short stop is positioned at cl along the direction 12, 13 only one square away from the radial series of squares 15 and with one move of one square the short stop will be on the line along the line (15) along which the ball istravelling and X in charge of the batters will realize that the longer the ball takes to reach the short stop, the longer will theshort stop have to wait before he can throw to the first baseman. Therefore, X passes up or waives the three-point advantage indicated on the piece representing the batter. Thus, these three points are not used. Now the ball has been hit and the direction of its travel along its course numbered 15 has been determined. The spinning wheel is now spun to ascertain how many squares or radial spaces along the direction 15 the ball is to be moved. The section 63 will indicate this and we shall assume that the arrow indicates the number 8. X in charge of' the play of the batter moves the ball 8 spaces along the direction 15 counting from the home plate which would dispose the ball at la on the field. Following` the movement of the ball to the space h the batterv is moved one stride toward the first base'which will place the batter at on the base line, that is, at the first stride terminal Now, the player disposing the men on the field may move his men starting with the pitcher. The pitcher is found to be three spaces from the line of movement of the ball (15) and since the ball will have likely passed beyond thepossibility of its interception by a movement of the pitcher, there would be no gain by moving the pitcher so he is permitted to remain in the pitchers box. The first baseman is moved one space from the position f nearer rst base which will put him in the square j. The second baseman is then moved toward second base, which will place him at le. The short stop is also moved from space el one space to the square Z and the short stop is thus on the line of travel of the ball. There being no advantage apparent in moving the third basemen or the right `or left fielders, they are allowed to remain in the positions g, a. and c but thecenter fielder is moved one space toward the direction 15, that is, toward the line of travel of' the ball, thus placing the center fielder at the square m.

There. has now been completed the first round of play,that is to say, the ball has been moved, the batter has been moved, and the field menmoved, and now it is required to determine the second move of the ball. The wheel is spun by the player X having charge of the batting nine and that having been done, the pointer may indicate, say number 10. The hit ball now moves 10 spaces. along the direction indicated by the numeral 15 which would put the ball at n on the field. It is to be noted that there or whether the ball went past, 'for which purpose the spinner wheel 64 is spun and that legend in the annular zone 69 indicated by the arrow 70 determines the fate of the ball. Assume that the arrow pointed to stopped on the zone 69. If it has been stoppedf7 it must have been by the short stop on the saine line withl the travel of the ball and therefore the ball is placed on top of the piece representing the short stop. rli`he play then proceeds as described with respect to the batter which is moved another stride toward first base which would place hiin at the square o or at the second stride terminal 53. lt is again in order to move the field men. its the pitcher is not in a threatening position or cannot be moved to one, he is not moved, nor is the second basenian nor third baseman', nor outfielders moved fromk their positions, but the short stop is moved with the bal-l one space toward tirst base, thus shortening.;l the distance he will have to throw the ball to first base. This puts the short stop with the ball at the square g on the field. The first baseman is moved one square nearer the first base to position j). lt is now the turn to move the ball and this time the ball is supposed to be thrown. At this point of the game the player in charge of the men in the field, or the defense, must inform his opponent X to which player7 the ball is to be thrown, this being assumed to be a rule of the game. I would here mention that the nien or pieces representing` players may be moved radially one square each move ornioved in an arcuate path one square. The men may not be moved diagonally on the field from one square to an adjacent one obliquely disposed thereto but a thrown ball may be moved diagonally as well as radially or in an arcuate path. Assume that the ball is to be thrown to the first baseman and so announced, then the wheel is spun and the arrow 70 will indicate by pointing to a numeral on the annular zone 68 of the spinner. wheel what distance the ball is to be moved toward the first baseman. Y Assume that the spinning of the spinner wheel indicates the numeral 6 on Zone G8, then the ball, which is on the short stop piece at Q, is moved six permitted spaces toward the first baseman, that is, it may be moved, say three diagonally disposed spaces one radial space and then two arcuate spaces toward first base which would pnt the ball at r on the field. The player having charge of the team at bat will now move the runner another stride toward first base which will place the runner at sl on the diagram, that is, at the third stride terminal 53. For the third time the field men may now move. Clearly', therel is but one man potential to interfere with the runner, and that is the first baseman who is at p in the diagram,

insane@ and the .first iiascn'ian is moved one square onto first base. ii-.7e now have the ball at the square r which is separated four squares or live spaces from the iirst base.

The wheel is again spun and we assume that it stops for irample with the arrow pointing to 7 on Zone 68. Then the player having charge of the lielders moves the bail and places it on the piece representing the first basennin so that the runner is out. rthe play then stands l out. The next batter is pnt up a id the field menare re-arranged. he ball beinVv placed on pitcher. rthe ball tl en taken off the pitcher and placed on ionic plate and the plav is continued as L'or lf, instead of the balll being'. stopped the short stop, it cwent past, then the 'iall woind have been left at n and the play continued in the regular course, to wit, batter takes another stride; then field nien more and the play continues in order. An interesting rule would be that unless the ball was stopped, it continues its radial direction to the outermost annular series of numbers, in which event it would remain at the end of the iield until picked up by some player, in which event the ball would subsequently be assumed to be thrown by player as heretofore stated.

Now, should there be any of the base runners between any of the bases, the short stop, would, of course, throw the ball when it again came the turn to throw the ball to saine base in an effort to pnt out a ruimer oii'x base. lf the ball finally reaches the baseman and the baseman reaches the base before the base ruimer returns, that base runner Ais out as in the national baseball rules.

in the foregoing where it refers to the balls second move, if instead of the ball being stopped, it was indicated as fun'ibled by the spinner, then the play would have been the saine as described except that at the next time it came the turn of the ball to be thrown, the throw would be skipped and the ball would be delayed that one move. Then, when it came the turn again for the ball to be thrown by the opponent Y, or defense player, it may be thrown to wherever he desired. ln other words, the fumble is penalty for the player not getting the ball at once, and the next turn of the ball to be thrown is skipped thus causing it to be delayed one move.

Again, if the ball instead of being stopped it is a caught fly, in which case the ball would be taken from the space r where it was placed and puton the short stop whom it passed and the batter would, of course, be out.

I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself strictly to the exact details herein illustrated, since, manifestly, the same can loa be considerably varied without departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a game apparatus, a board having a field delineated thereon and presenting arcuate series of spaces intcrsected by lines radiating from the home plate and having a diamond as well as separated marks indicating successive strides along the baselines; together with pieces representing the players and a ball, and a spinner bearing indicia to indicate the movement of the ball.

2.- In a baseball game apparatus, a board having a field delineated thereon with spaces disposed radially and in arcuate zones, and the radial spaces indicating the direction a ball may move when a hit is indicated; together' with pieces representing players and a. ball and a spinner bearing indicia to indicate a particular direction of the ball and the moves permitted the piece representing the ball.

3. In a baseball game apparatus, a board having spaces disposed both radially and in arcuate paths, and symbols to mark various radial directions that the ball may take, pieces tov represent players of two teams, and a spinner bearing indicia to determine the moves of the ball, certain of the player pieces bearing symbols indicating various point values in favor of given player pieces over others.

4. In a baseball game apparatus, a board having a ball field delineated thereon and a diamond marked on said'field, said field having spaces disposed on lines radiating from the home plate and also 'disposed in arcuate zones, said field having annular series of symbols at intervals thereon marking the various radial directions; together with pieces representing players and the ball, a marke-r adapted' to be disposed on a direction symbol to mark the direction of a hit ball, and a spinner bea-ring indicia 'determinativeof the movement of the ball.

5. In a baseball game apparatus, a board having a ball field delineated thereon, and a diamond marked on said field, said field having spaces disposed on lines radiating from the home plate and also disposed in arcuate Zones, said field having annular series of symbols at intervals thereon marking various radial directions, marks in certain of said spaces along the base lines to indicate successive strides that a runner may move, pieces representing players and the ball, and a spinner bearing indicia to determine the movement of the ball.

G. In a baseball game apparatus, a board having a ball field delineated thereon, and a ldiamond marked on said field, said field having spaces disposed on lines radiating from the home plate and also disposed in arcuate zones, said field having symbols thereon indicating the directional lines constituted by the variously disposed rows of spaces, and a spinner having an annular seriesV of symbols corresponding with the directional symbols on the field.

7. In a baseball game apparatus, al board having a ball field delineated thereon, and a diamond marked on said field, said field having spaces disposed o-n lines radiating from the home plate and also disposed in arcuate Zones, said field having symbols thereon indicating the directional lines constituted by the radially disposed rows of spaces, and a spinner having an annular series of symbols corresponding with the directionalsymbols on the field, pieces representing players and the ball, said spinner bearing thereon indicia determinative of the spaces the ball may be moved radially in an indicated direction, as well as indicia indicative of the fate of the ball in a given movement on the field.

8. In a baseball game apparatus, a board` having a ball field delineated thereon, and a diamond marked on said field, the field presenting spaces disposed on lines radiating from the home plate and also disposed in arcuate zones, an annular series of directional symbols marking the radially disposed rows of spaces, a marker adapted to be placed on any one of' the directional symbols to mark a given direction represented by a row of radially disposed spaces, pieces representing the ball and the players, and a spinner having four annular zones bearing indicia, the one zone of the spinner bearing symbols corresponding with the directional symbols on the field, a second zone bearing indicia. determinative of strikes, balls, fouls, and hits, the third of the zones bearing numerals indicating the number of spaces the ball may be moved radially, diagonally, or-in an arcuate path, and the fourth zone of the spinner bearing indicia determinative of the fate of the hit ball as to being fumbled, went past, stopped or caught ffy.

JOSEPH OCONNOR.

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